State Lands $18M Homelessness Lifeline

by NORA GRACE-FLOOD

Oscar Britt has a plan to survive subfreezing temperatures this weekend thanks to a connection he made with outreach workers who found him a hard-tosecure shelter bed at Columbus House.

The state is hoping to hire many more such workers who can connect with many more Oscars in New Haven and beyond — thanks to a newly announced federal infusion of $18 million to pay for a variety of homelessness services.

Gov. Ned Lamont and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy arrived in New Haven to welcome that financial award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Friday morning at the start of a cold weather crackdown that has people without homes scrambling for shelter and shelters stretching to provide it.

“The weather is bone-chilling, frigid and deeply dangerous. We’re at a point of maximum danger in terms of public health right now,” Blumenthal told reporters packed into the housing nonprofit Liberty Safe Haven at 210 State St. during Friday’s press conference.

“The solution to homelessness has to involve jobs and mental health and all the kinds of services that will enable people to get back on their feet,” he said, to avoid weather emergencies like this weekend